Direction indicator for automobiles



L. A. BEAN. I DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 16, 1920- 2 SHEETSSHEET Patented Apr. 25, v 1922.

INVEN TOR. LA. BEA/V L. A. BEAN.

DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6, 1920- Patentd Apr. 25, 1922.

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I INVENTOR. LA 504M prescribed signals 40- simulates the above same Tj -i m w r 1 Lou s inne mbr DEN E ooLonADofi I of Colorado, have invented, certain new" and useful Improvements in Direction Indrca-tors I for Automobiles, of" which the. following is a specification. Thls invention relates. to dlrect on lIlCllCEL- tors for motor vehicles and itsprimary objecti is to provide -a.: s'imple-and eflicient mechanism forprojecting a signal from a side-of a vehicle to warn] pedestrians, and

drivers of approaching oratollowing cars,.of

a contemplated change'inthedirection or? the speed of thesame.

Another object of the- =invention iisto pro-' vide a direction indicator of the character mentioned in which a signalblade may be projected to 1 different ipredetermined posi- V tions to indicate either .-a contemplated change. in the speed of the vehicle or speicifically the direction in which it is about-to beturnedf In certain parts of. the cou-ntry 1tf1sfordained bylaw that drivers otmotor vehicles shall give .visible warnlng of-an intended stop or change of direction by-extending the hand beyond the side of .the vehicle inzpositions specified by the authorities The code usually followedJis that thehand inazdownwardly directed position vindicates that the being diminished, a. the hand denotes: a

speed of the vehicle is horizontal positionv of: turn to the left, and a r-upwardly directed directed position of the y the use of my improved indicator, the

adjustment of a handle adjacentthe drivers of my invention to provisions ofthe'lawp With-the above andother objects in view,

my invention consists in. the construction.

and arrangement of parts shown in the acf companying drawings in the variousfviews of which like parts hicle; a

Figure 2, a fragmentarysectional Viewof "Application filed.August 16, 1920. Serial No. 403, 712.

- the outer portion o blade in another of the tions, and r for I v ce 7 is secured to one. ofthe side 'the- W1I1dSl1 l 8ld 8' ofa motor vehicle in a same, a'turn to the may be given by a slightprovide a' signal which" described positions of- 1 the hand so as to brihgitstrictly within. the

" fling from'the sleeve of vmountedfin the casing are similarly designated,

DIRECTION runroeron ronnuromonrnns.

Specificatien of letters Patent.

the signal scribed positions; Figure 3, a topiview otthe casingat an end of the device, in (which the signal.--bla de;--;is normally concealed. 5; I

fl'thei 5Q I blade thereof in one ofthefpre- Figure 4:, a top fviewgofthe iopposite end portion of the device looking. in thedirection of the arrowA, Figure 1 Figure 5,i a sectionaland elevation-of the indicator showing: thesignal Fig. 6, a;fra-gmentary view-of operating thesignal blade. 1'

predetermined posi -Referring more specifically to jthe .draw-,;, I

ings, my improved direction indicator comprises an oblong-casingfi mountedtransversely at the end of a. tubularcasing 6 whlch by means of a suitable clamping dehorizontallyprojecting position. Y

The clampingdevlce may be-ofany posts of; a

'propriate construction and ;made .either separate from the windshield or in integral connection. with the same- 1 The casing;

which. in practise extends transverso-vertically at the end of; the arm, .carries at its rearward side anincandescent' lamp-9 whichiby mea'ns of wires-10v extend-7' mg along the arm, isconnectedi'n an electric circuitfof the motor vehicle.

I A' mirror 12' likewise fastened too-the 'casing,-. slants rearward of the. lamIi-asbest shown in Figure. ward-side being polished-to reflect the-light, rays emitted from the lamp onto the {signal blade projected opposite sideis silvered to enable the driver seat of the vehicle, and it is another object 3 ofthe drawings, its fore from the, casing, while its of -the, vehicle to observe the movement of vehicles approaching at the rear thereof.-

T. The. signal blade :13 which preferably is it simulation of made in an open hand extenda garment, is pivotally as at wardly thereof to .a selected angle.

A wrist pin 15 on the blade at. a short distance from its pivot, provides a crank connect on for: the

an operating-rod :16 which extends loosely -14 to swing outupturned end portion of through the tubular arm to which the casing ,7 I

is attached.

: The: opposite end ofthe in its projected positions.

hold a sleeve 19 rotatably mounted upon the rod, in an adjusted position. 7

A handle 20 rigidly fastened to the sleeve bears against a spiral cam 21 at -t;he edge of a hollow head 22which is fastened at the endof the arm by a set-screw 23.

The handle-carries a spring catch 24 which cooperates with notches 25=ot "the :head to "secure rotary movement of the crank in'engage'm'ent with the cam,

will cause the rod to move lengthwise "through the tubular arm and by it's crank l atte'r to turn about its pivot shown in full *lines changes in the movement hereinbe tore explained, l t

connection with the signal blade compel the casing in which it is normally concealed in Figure 5. The notche'sin the cam hea'd arearranged to establish the three de'terminate p'ositions of "the signal blade which indicate the intended of the vehicle as being understood that the entrance of the spring ufrged match into said 'notcheslocks-the operating rod and the signal blade against further movement Luntil released by forcible rotation of the crank in either di'rectio'n.

The pi'n on the sleeve w oi king in the slot at the arm maintains the different parts of the operating mechanism in tlreincooperative relation and. a stop 28 of rubber or other resilient material eushion the impact at the signal blade when it is returned to Y its normal position inside 'thecasing. V s ting reflector on the side otythe I casing directsthe :light ays 'orthemm 1 onto the -p'roj ected signal blade to -render it= cl'ea rly I *visible at nigl1t as well a's inda'ytime.

1 claim and "desire to se'cur'eiby Eetter-s Pan,

' rod, and "means for Having thus described my invention what entgis ""ing 1. "A direction indicator fon'automobiles comprising-a support,'a signal blade pivoted thereon, a longitudinally mova'ble rod having a crank connection with 'the blade, -'a crank rotatable'on therod, a cam engagechby the crank and adapted to convert the :rotary movement thereof into a longitudinal m oveanentof the rod, and means for-locking the rod in a predetermined position o'fi the signal blade. p i

12. A direction indicator for automobiles comprising-a support, 'a signal blade pivoted thereon, a longitudinally movable rod havthe rod, a fixed-cle into a longitudinal moveme'nt of the comprising extending Ithrou crank connection with the signal blade, a rotary sleeve on the rod, 'utside of the the rod, a cam :engaged bycomprising and afeam 'lation, a signal cblade EPlVOtBd on said :member, au'rod *supported on the rmember and a with thesi nal Iblade, a *rotaryielement on the rod, inc uda prank-connection with :the blade, a crank rotatable on fhaving'a eam face'engag'ed bythe crank and adapted to convert the rotary movement thereof determined position of the signal blade.

3. A di-rect-ion -indicator for automobiles a tubular arm, a support at an endthereof, a signal blade support, a rod loosely extending through the armr an d having a :crank connection with the signal blade, a rotary crank on the rod, a head on the arm having a cam face enga ge'djby the-crank, anda ca'toh on thecrank pivoted on the a-ndth e crank .for locking the rod in a preactin'g upongsaid head to lock the rod in a predetermined position of the signal blade.

4. A direction indicator for automobiles; comprising a-tubul-ar arm' havlng a spiral slot, a support at van end of the arm, a a; signal blade pivoted on the support, a rod loosely h thecarm a'nd having a a pin on the sleeve workingin the spiralslotofthe arm, a crank connected SWZit'h thesleeve, afhead on the arm 1 ha-vinga cam face'engaged: by the crank, and acatc'hon the crank acting upon said head to lock the'rod in a predetermined position of the'signal blade.

=5. "In a idi'rectio'n indicator for automobiles, a support, means for its connection in a projectingposition at a side of;a -motor vehicle, a zprojectable signal blade at the outer end of the support, an electric "lamp "on ?-the support, and a mirror on the support having opposite reflective surfaces one' of which deflects-the light rays of the :lamp

onto=thesignal blade in azprojecting position, and'the other of which'pr'es'ents a view-rearward of' the vehicle :to an occupant of the drivers seat thereof.

' 6. A direction indicatorpfor automobiles ficomprisin'g' a support, assignal blade .pi voted thereon, 'aalongitudinally movable rod having a erank connection with 'thebl;ade, a rotary handle operatimly connected with having a crank connection ing a handle :engagi'n-g with the =cam face and azpart moving in theslot, and means for locking the handle on the holding member sin ;a pr'edeterinined position of the signal blade. I 5 r 8. direction indicator for' automobiles comprising a support, mea-ns for its rigid connection "with a part of "afve'hicle iin projecting relation to a side of the same, a signal blade zpivoted to move in a substanthe handle and i tially vertical plane, a rotary operating member mounted on the support, a transmission member connecting the operating member with the signal blade, cooperative With the convert its movement of the signal blade, and means operating member to means on the support rotary movement into a pivotal to lock the handleon the support in any of a plurality of predetermined positions'of' the blade. 10 In. testimony whereof I have aflixed my" signature.

:LOUISI A. BEAN; 

